Can briefly lifting a camera by the body damage the lens mount with a heavy telephoto attached?
Asked 3/26/2018
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I use a Nikon D850 with a Sigma 150-600mm lens (about 1.9 kg). When walking, I normally carry the setup using the lens strap, but sometimes I briefly lift it by the camera body before supporting the lens with my other hand. I've heard that holding a camera by the body with a large telephoto attached can damage the lens mount. Is briefly raising the setup this way likely to harm the mount?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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With a 2kg lens, I wouldn't expect any problems; and lenses heavier than that aren't for 'walkaround' use. Those 500 mm prime lenses you mentioned weight in general at least 4-5 kg, and even then they say "may damage the mount"
A lot depends on how you carry it by the camera.
If the lens is vertical (pointing up or down), you won't have any problems with the camera mount (your arms/shoulders will probably complain before your camera).
If you carry the assembly with the lens horizontal, there's in theory more chance of problems with a really heavy lens. Not because of the weight in itself, but because of the torque (rotational force) it exerts, especially when there's any kind of acceleration involved. But in practice, in the case you describe, negligable.
Taking pictures is a different story, there you will want to support the lens, and not just the camera: having that 2kg well in front of the support is going to make it next to impossible to keep the camera steady. Even a good tripod will have trouble (that's why heavier lenses have a support collar on the lens).
Originally by user72870. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user72870
8y ago
0
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Briefly lifting that setup by the camera body is unlikely to damage the mount. With a lens around 1.9 kg, most photographers would not expect a problem from a short lift, especially if you immediately support the lens with your other hand.
The main issue is not just weight, but torque on the mount. If the lens is horizontal, it puts more rotational force on the mount than when it is vertical, and sudden acceleration or swinging increases that force. Very large super-telephoto primes are much heavier, which is why people are more cautious with them.
So: an occasional brief lift is generally fine, but for carrying and handling, it’s still best practice to support the lens rather than let the camera mount take the load for long periods. Avoid carrying the combo by the camera body alone, especially with the lens sticking straight out.
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